Portfolio Task 2

How can policies of your government either contribute or help to reduce the problem of global warming

Global warming is a key problem faced by the world today. Carbon dioxide concentration in our atmosphere has reached levels we have never seen before. The Earth’s temperature rises accordingly because carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas. In recent years, many parts of the world have experienced an increase in the number of natural disasters. For example, Japan clocked ten hurricanes in Year 2005, far exceeding its previous record of seven. Recent Hurricanes and typhoons became stronger due to this climate change, killing more people and causing massive destruction. In 2005, due to rising temperature of water bodies, Hurricane Katrina became so strong that it wiped out the whole of New Orleans. This problem of global warming is going to have an impact on everyone. Reducing this problem requires the collective effort from all nations. Hence, government policies play a huge role in tackling this problem.

The Singapore government has been taking proactive actions aiming at reducing greenhouse emissions. The National Environment Agency has launched various campaigns over the recent years to promote energy efficiency and conservation, and educating the public on energy saving practices. As most of our energy comes directly from the burning of fuels, reduction in energy consumption will result in lesser greenhouse gases being emitted into the atmosphere. The main bulk of greenhouse gases emission comes from industries and automobiles. Shifting the focus of government policies to these two areas will reap favorable results. Green technology is very expansive; many industries are not willing to take on such practices as it is not financially viable. The government can give higher rebates and more incentives to companies and industries who invested in green technology so as to encourage them to take on a more vigorous approach towards reducing greenhouse gases emissions. Likewise, rebates and incentives such as lower road tax can be offered to owners of green cars. The government can also encourage construction of facilities such as Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) refilling stations and workshops. Having more of such facilities bring much convenience to users, which in turn will encourage sales of these environmental friendly automobiles.

Apart from implementing domestic policies to reduce the problem of global warming, the government can take on a more proactive role to influence and encourage other countries to tackle the problem of global warming. Singapore has been an active member of the Association of South East Asia Nations (ASEAN) ever since its formation in the last decade. Through using this regional portal, the Singapore government will be able to take up a leading role in collaborating with neighbouring countries on developing new technologies or implementing new guidelines. They could also provide technical advice and expertise to these countries to help them develop and implement green technologies. Every country should play their part in contributing to the clause. Policies made by the Singapore government should not focus just on domestic entities; it should also look at how it can be a regional or international player.

Ref: An Inconvenient Truth

Portfolio Task 1

Education plays a pivotal role in equipping the engineer with the ability to “systematically analyze complex information and apply a holistic approach in designing solutions.” In tertiary institutions such as the National University of Singapore, engineering undergraduates are taught the fundamental principles of calculus, physics and computing; so as to equip them with the basic knowledge to analyse engineering problems. Tutorials and examinations are designed to intrigue students to analyse problems and solve them systematically using the principles they have learnt. Furthermore, laboratory sessions are conducted to provide students hands-on experience. During each laboratory session, students are required to make detailed observations, analyse the results they obtained and suggest plausible solutions to the problems they faced.

We are now living in a globalised world, where education extends beyond the four walls of the classroom. Tertiary institutions ride along the globalisation wave and collaborated with institutions from different countries. Engineering students are encouraged to participate in the Student Exchange Program where they will spend a semester studying in a different country. This enables them to interact and exchange ideas with students and professors of the host institution, which in turn triggering the exploration of new methods into analysing and solving problems. Collaborations between tertiary institutions and industrial companies, both local and abroad, not only give engineering students an opportunity to experience working life, but also an opportunity to deal with real engineering problems. Students who have undergone this attachment program will be better equipped to meet the demands of the dynamic and sophisticated economy.

Practising engineers have undergone a vigorous tertiary education which focused on analytical and critical thinking. Such attributes are viewed with high importance for the growth of the economy at a whole. In recent years, an increasing number of engineers have deflected from the manufacturing and construction industries to the flourishing finance and banking sectors. Such that In the latest budget forum, Madam Halimah Yacob, Assistant Secretary General of National Trade Union Congress, pointed out that even though we are facing the worst ever recession since our independence, there is a silver lining for the manufacturing industry as it is an opportunity to recruit more engineers from the finance sector to drive the industry forward. There are never too many engineers for the economy.